In its 120 years of eventful journey, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) has been the torchbearer for pioneering research contributions and quality post-graduate education in veterinary and animal sciences.

Izzatnagar-based IVRI has been instrumental in undertaking holistic research in veterinary and animal sciences besides promoting high quality education and training. The institute is well-known for developing systems and technologies for better animal health care and production and their transfer to end-users, in the process functioning as an effective instrument for nutritional security, poverty alleviation and rural construction.

Days of yore

IVRI has its genesis way back to December 9, 1889 when the institute was known as Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory in Pune, which was later relocated to Mukteswar, Kumaon Hills in 1893 to facilitate segregation and quarantine of highly contagious organisms. The Izatnagar Campus, the present headquarters of the Institute came into existence in 1913. In 1925, it was re-designated as Imperial Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) but after independence, the new name Indian Veterinary Research Institute was coined.
The expanse and reach

Today, the institute has four campuses in Izatnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Bangalore (Karnataka), Mukteswar (Uttrakhand) and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) and three regional stations at Kolkata (West Bengal), Srinagar (J&K) currently stationed at Mukteswar and Palampur (Himachal Pradesh). Besides, they have 21 research divisions, Centres for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis, and Wildlife Conservation, Management and Disease Surveillance-sections and other supporting central facilities.

Quality manpower

This premier scientific organization today has earned the status of a national institute in the country. The institute currently has 239 scientists, 449 technical, 343 administrative, 1790 auxiliary and supporting staff.

Educational offerings

The Institute was conferred the Deemed to be University status by University Grants Commission, Government of India in 1983 and today the university offers Master’s programme in 22 disciplines, Ph.D. programme in 19 disciplines, and National diploma courses in 9 disciplines as a part of continuing education for field veterinarians, besides several short-term specialized training courses for the professionals and vocational trainings to the farmers.

Technologies developed

A major focus of research at IVRI has been the development of sensitive and specific diagnostics and immunoprophylactics. More than 50 immunobiologicals against many bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases of economic importance have been developed making the country self-reliant in veterinary medicine. The institute has registered 36 technologies for patenting including two under PCT and one with national phase entry into the USA, which makes it a forerunner among the ICAR institutes.

The institute has been actively working towards the betterment of animal health care for over a century and will continue to develop more such technologies for the betterment of our animal friends.